Freedom Hall- Louisville, Kentucky
Video Gallery: Region 5 Athletes
As we approach the championship portion of the Dev Program season (Level 9/10), the elites are gearing up for their 2023 season. The first big competition of the year is the Winter Cup, which this marks only the second year that the women have participated in the event. This competition serves many purposes in the overall training plan of the elite season.
Many of the gymnasts use this competition as a test of new skills or combinations they hope to have consistent in their routines for later this summer. However for most of the athletes, it’s one of those opportunities to achieve the USA Championships qualifying score or place high enough to be selected for international assignments over the next few months.
Region 5 had five participate in this years Winter Cup, 2 seniors and 3 juniors. Leading the way for our region was Izzy Stassi from Buckeye Gymnastics. Izzy finished 6th (51.8) all around in the junior division and qualified to the upcoming junior worlds selection camp. She has shown an upgraded vault this season already but competed her Yurchenko 1 1/2 for 13.4 but did upgrade her mount on beam to a layout step out onto the beam. Her top finish was on her best event bars with 4th place 13.05 for this routine.
video from USA GymnasticsCarly Weinburg, from Buckeye Gymnastics, competed in her first Winter Cup and showed an upgraded bar routine with a new Weiler kip combo, strong beam set that included a new side somi (12.4) and solid landings on floor (12.8) and 4th place tie on the event.
video by USA Gymnastics2022 Winter Cup Junior Champion Ella Kate Parker, who returned to Cincinnati Gymnastics only a few weeks prior to Winter Cup, had the 5th best beam routine for juniors (13.0). She moved through her routine with very little pause and nailed her aerial layout series which is one of the best you will see. Welcome back Ella!
video by USA GymnasticsThis Winter Cup served as the senior elite debut for two of our Region 5 athletes. Former junior national team member Gabby Van Frayen from Gym Xtreme competed on three events in her first Winter Cup as a senior. Gabby who is still working back from injury has added two new tumbling passes on floor; triple full and front layout front double full which she was slightly off but improvised quickly with some dramatic choreography to attempt to cover the fall, loved it! Her top score came on vault with a very nice Yurchenko full (12.95)
Kelise Woolford from Buckeye made the jump too elite after Level 10 Nationals last year and made it all the way to USA Championships. Now in only her 2nd season as an elite, finds herself in the senior division. She had some struggles but has added a side somi to her beam and toe full before her Maloney on bars. Her Yurckenko full on vault produced her top score of the competition with a 12.8.
These five talented athletes are always fun to watch and it will be exciting to see where this 2023 season takes them.
